Imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazinonyl derivatives as trpa1 inhibitors

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides certain imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazinonyl derivatives that are inhibitors of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), and are therefore useful for the treatment of diseases treatable by inhibition of TRPA1. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions containing the same, and processes for preparing said compounds.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure provides certain imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazinonyl derivatives that are inhibitors of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), and are therefore useful for the treatment of diseases treatable by inhibition of TRPA1. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions containing the same, and processes for preparing said compounds.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Transient receptor potential channels (TRP channels) are a group of voltage-gated ion channels located mostly on the plasma membrane of numerous mammalian cell types. There are approximately 30 structurally related TRP channels sorted into groups: TRPA, TRPC, TRPM, TRPML, TRPN, TRPP and TRPV. Transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily A, member 1 (TRPA1), also known as transient receptor potential ankyrin 1, is the only member of the TRPA gene subfamily. Structurally, TRPA channels are characterized by multiple N-terminal ankyrin repeats (˜14 in the N-terminus of human TRPA1) that gives rise to the “A” for ankyrin designation (Montell, 2005).

TRPA1 is highly expressed in the plasma membrane of sensory neurons in the dorsal root and nodose ganglia that serve both skin and lung, as well as in small intestine, colon, pancreas, skeletal muscle, heart, brain, bladder and lymphocytes (https://www.proteinatlas.org/) as well as in human lung fibroblasts.

TRPA1 is best known as a sensor for environmental irritants giving rise to somatosensory modalities such as pain, cold and itch. TRPA1 is activated by a number of reactive, electrophilic stimuli (e.g. allyl isothiocyanate, reactive oxygen species), as well as non-reactive compounds (e.g. icilin), implicated in cough associated with asthma, chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) or post-viral cough or for chronic idiopathic cough as well as cough in sensitive patients. (Song and Chang, 2015; Grace and Belvisi, 2011). TRPA1 inhibitors are useful in the treatment of IPF in which cough is highly prevalent because of the link between cough and lung injury, based on studies showing cough-induced elevation of TGF-β (Xie et al., 2009; Froese et al., 2016; Tschumperlin et al., 2003; Yamamoto et al., 2002; Ahamed et al., 2008). Acute lung injury as a result of SARS-Cov-2 infection is mediated at least in part via reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS are a direct activator of TRPA1. Furthermore, desensitisation of TRPA1 via consumption of spicy foods has been postulated to regulate the Nrf2 pathway and reduce oxidative stress (Bousquet et al., 2020, Bousquet et al., 2021). TRPA1 inhibitors therefore have the potential in the treatment of Covid-19/SARS-Cov-2 induced lung injury. TRPA1 antagonists inhibit calcium signaling triggered by cough triggers such as cigarette smoke extract (CSE) oxidative stress, inflammatory mediator release and downregulated antioxidant gene expression (Lin et al., 2015; Wang et al., 2019). TRPA1 antagonists are effective in studies of atopic dermatitis (Oh et al., 2013; Wilson et al., 2013), contact dermatitis (Liu et al., 2013), psoriasis-associated itch (Wilson et al., 2013) and IL-31-dependent itch (Cevikbas et al., 2014). A human TRPA1 gain-of-function has been associated with familial episodic pain syndrome (Kremeyer et al., 2010). A TRPA1 antagonist was effective in a behavioral model of migraine-related allodynia (Edelmayer et al., 2012). TRPA1 is selectively increased in trigeminal ganglia innervating injured teeth when compared to TRPA1 expression in trigeminal ganglia innervating healthy teeth (Haas et al., 2011). Several anaesthetics are known to be TRPA1 agonists, including isoflurane (Matta et al., 2008) providing rationale for TRPA1 inhibitors for the relief of post-surgical pain. TRPA1 knockout mice and wild type mice treated with a TRPA1 antagonist showed anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like phenotypes (de Moura et al., 2014). TRPA1 inhibitors are expected to have benefit in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy based on studies showing a mechanistic link of inverse regulation between AMPK and TRPA1 (Hiyama et al., 2018; Koivisto and Pertovaara, 2013; Wang et al., 2018). TRPA1 knockout mice exhibit smaller myocardial infarct sizes compared to wild type mice (Conklin et al., 2019). TRPA1 knockout and pharmacological intervention inhibited TNBS-induced colitis in mice (Engel et al., 2011). In a mouse brain ischaemia model, TRPA1 knock-out and TRPA1 antagonists reduce myelin damage (Hamilton et al., 2016). Urate crystals and joint inflammation are reduced in TRPA1 knockout mice in a monosodium urate mouse model of gout (Moilanen et al., 2015). TRPA1 deletion in rats ameliorated joint inflammation and hyperalgesia in a rat model of acute gout flares (Trevisan et al., 2014). Activation of TRPA1 elicits an inflammatory response in osteoarthritic chondrocytes (Nummenmaa et al., 2016). TRPA1 inhibition and genetic deletion reduces inflammatory mediators in osteoarthritic mouse chondrocytes and murine cartilage (Nummenmaa et al., 2016). Finally, TRPA1 knockout mice exhibited improvements in weight bearing on the osteoarthritic limb in an MIA-evoked knee swelling model (Horvath et al., 2016). TRPA1 is differentially expressed in the bladder epithelium of rats (Du et al., 2007) and of patients with bladder outlet obstruction (Du et al., 2008). TRPA1 receptor modulation attenuates bladder overactivity in a rat model of spinal cord injury (Andrade et al., 2011) and intrathecal administration of TRPA1 antagonists attenuate cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis in rats with hyper-reflexia micturition (Chen et al., 2016).

It is therefore desirable to provide potent TRPA1 inhibitors.

TRPA1 inhibitors of various structural classes are reviewed in S. Skerratt, Progress in Medicinal Chemistry, 2017, Volume 56, 81-115 and in D. Preti, G. Saponaro, A. Szallasi, Pharm. Pat. Anal. (2015) 4 (2), 75-94, and in H. Chen, Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) antagonists: a patent review (2015-2019), Expert Opin Ther Pat., 2020.

WO2017/060488 discloses compounds that are antagonists of TRPA1, having the generalized structural formula

The TRPA1 activities of Examples 53, 72, 73, 86 and 90 therein are disclosed having IC₅₀'s of less than 100 nM in a calcium flux assay.

L. Schenkel, et al., J. Med. Chem. 2016, 59, 2794-2809 discloses quinazolinone-based TRPA1 antagonists including compounds of the generalized structural formula

of which compound 31, wherein R is OH, is disclosed as having an antagonistic TRPA1 activity IC₅₀ of 58 nM in a FLIPR assay and having an intrinsic clearance in human liver microsomes of <14 μL/min/kg.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses novel imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazinonyl derivatives that are inhibitors of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), possessing appropriate pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties enabling their use as medicaments for the treatment of conditions and/or diseases treatable by inhibition of TRPA1.

The compounds of the present invention may provide several advantages, such as enhanced potency, high metabolic and/or chemical stability, high selectivity, safety and tolerability, enhanced solubility, enhanced permeability, desirable plasma protein binding, enhanced bioavailability, suitable pharmacokinetic profiles, and the possibility to form stable salts.

The Compounds of the Invention

The present invention provides imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazinonyl derivatives that are surprisingly potent inhibitors of TRPA1 (Assay A), further characterised by

-   -   improved stability in human liver microsomes (Assay B)     -   improved stability in human hepatocytes (Assay C)

Compounds of the present invention differ structurally from examples 53, 72, 73, 86 and 90 in WO2017/060488 and from example 31 in L. Schenkel, et al., J. Med. Chem. 2016, 59, 2794-2809, in that they contain a substituted imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazinonyl core as well as substituents adjacent to a secondary aliphatic alcohol. These structural differences unexpectedly lead to a favourable combination of (i) inhibition of TRPA1, (ii) stability in human liver microsomes, and (iii) stability in human hepatocytes.

Stability in human liver microsomes refers to the susceptibility of compounds to biotransformation in the context of selecting and/or designing drugs with favorable pharmacokinetic properties as a first screening step. The primary site of metabolism for many drugs is the liver. Human liver microsomes contain the cytochrome P450s (CYPs), and thus represent a model system for studying phase I drug metabolism in vitro. Enhanced stability in human liver microsomes is associated with several advantages, including increased bioavailability and adequate half-life, which can enable lower and less frequent dosing of patients. Thus, enhanced stability in human liver microsomes is a favorable characteristic for compounds that are to be used for drugs. Therefore, compounds of the present invention in addition to being able to inhibit TRPA1 are expected to have a favorable in vivo clearance and thus the desired duration of action in humans.

Stability in human hepatocytes refers to the susceptibility of compounds to biotransformation in the context of selecting and/or designing drugs with favorable pharmacokinetic properties. The primary site of metabolism for many drugs is the liver. Human hepatocytes contain the cytochrome P450s (CYPs) and other drug metabolizing enzymes, and thus represent a model system for studying drug metabolism in vitro. (Importantly, in contrast to liver microsomes assay, the hepatocytes assay covers also phase II biotransformations as well as liver-specific transporter-mediated processes, and therefore represents a more complete system for drug metabolism studies). Enhanced stability in human hepatocytes is associated with several advantages, including increased bioavailability and adequate half-life, which can enable lower and less frequent dosing of patients. Thus, enhanced stability in human hepatocytes is a favorable characteristic for compounds that are to be used for drugs.

The present invention provides novel compounds according to formula (I)

wherein

A is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, thiophenyl, benzothiophenyl and benzofuranyl, and wherein A is unsubstituted or substituted with one or two members of the group R¹ consisting of halogen and C₁₋₄-alkyl;

or A is

E is selected from the group consisting of

Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a compound of formula (I), wherein A is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, thiophenyl, benzothiophenyl and benzofuranyl, and wherein A is unsubstituted or substituted with one or two members of the group R¹ consisting of Br, Cl, F and H₃C;

or A is

and substituent E is defined as in the preceding embodiment.

Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a compound of formula (I), wherein A is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, benzothiophenyl and benzofuranyl, and wherein A is unsubstituted or substituted with one or two members of the group R¹ consisting of halogen and C₁₋₄-alkyl;

or A is

and substituent E is defined as in any of the preceding embodiments.

Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a compound of formula (I), wherein A is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, benzothiophenyl and benzofuranyl, and wherein A is unsubstituted or substituted with one or two members of the group R¹ consisting of Br, Cl, F and H₃C;

or A is

and substituent E is defined as in any of the preceding embodiments.

Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a compound of formula (I), wherein A is selected from the group consisting of

and wherein A is unsubstituted or substituted with one or two members of the group R¹,

or

A is

and substituents E and R¹ are defined as in any of the preceding embodiments.

Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a compound of formula (I), wherein

A is selected from the group consisting of

and substituent E is defined as in any of the preceding embodiments.

Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a compound of formula (I), wherein E is

and substituent A is defined as in any of the preceding embodiments.

Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a compound of formula (I), wherein E is

and substituent A is defined as in any of the preceding embodiments.

Particularly preferred is the compound according to formula (I) selected from the group consisting of

Used Terms and Definitions

Terms not specifically defined herein should be given the meanings that would be given to them by one of skill in the art in light of the disclosure and the context. As used in the specification, however, unless specified to the contrary, the following terms have the meaning indicated and the following conventions are adhered to.

In the groups, radicals, or moieties defined below, the number of carbon atoms is often specified preceding the group, for example, C₁₋₆-alkyl means an alkyl group or radical having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. In general in groups like HO, H₂N, (O)S, (O)₂S, NC (cyano), HOOC, F₃C or the like, the skilled artisan can see the radical attachment point(s) to the molecule from the free valences of the group itself. For combined groups comprising two or more subgroups, the last named subgroup is the radical attachment point, for example, the substituent “aryl-C₁₋₃-alkyl” means an aryl group which is bound to a C₁₋₃-alkyl-group, the latter of which is bound to the core or to the group to which the substituent is attached.

In case a compound of the present invention is depicted in form of a chemical name and as a formula in case of any discrepancy the formula shall prevail. An asterisk may be used in sub-formulas to indicate the bond which is connected to the core molecule as defined.

The numeration of the atoms of a substituent starts with the atom that is closest to the core or to the group to which the substituent is attached.

For example, the term “3-carboxypropyl-group” represents the following substituent:

wherein the carboxy group is attached to the third carbon atom of the propyl group. The terms “1-methylpropyl-”, “2,2-dimethylpropyl-” or “cyclopropylmethyl-” group represent the following groups:

The asterisk may be used in sub-formulas to indicate the bond that is connected to the core molecule as defined.

The term “C_(1-n)-alkyl”, wherein n is an integer selected from 2, 3, 4 or 5, either alone or in combination with another radical denotes an acyclic, saturated, branched or linear hydrocarbon radical with 1 to n C atoms. For example the term C₁₋₅-alkyl embraces the radicals H₃C−, H₃C—CH₂—, H₃C—CH₂—CH₂—, H₃C—CH(CH₃)—, H₃C—CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—, H₃C—CH₂—CH(CH₃)—, H₃C—CH(CH₃)—CH₂—, H₃C—C(CH₃)₂—, H₃C—CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—, H₃C—CH₂—CH₂—CH(CH₃)—, H₃C—CH₂—CH(CH₃)—CH₂—, H₃C—CH(CH₃)—CH₂—CH₂—, H₃C—CH₂—C(CH₃)₂—, H₃C—C(CH₃)₂—CH₂—, H₃C—CH(CH₃)—CH(CH₃)— and H₃C—CH₂—CH(CH₂CH₃)—.

The term “fluoro” added to an “alkyl”, “alkylene” or “cycloalkyl” group (saturated or unsaturated) means such a alkyl or cycloalkyl group wherein one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by a fluorine atom. Examples include, but are not limited to: H₂FC—, HF₂C— and F₃C—.

The term phenyl refers to the radical of the following ring

The term thiophenyl refers to the radical of the following ring

The term benzofuranyl refers to the radical of the following ring

The term benzothiophenyl refers to the radical of the following ring

The term imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazinonyl refers to the radical of the following bicyclic cores

The term “substituted” as used herein, means that any one or more hydrogens on the designated atom is replaced with a selection from the indicated group, provided that the designated atom's normal valence is not exceeded, and that the substitution results in a stable compound.

Unless specifically indicated, throughout the specification and the appended claims, a given chemical formula or name shall encompass tautomers and all stereo, optical and geometrical isomers (e.g. enantiomers, diastereomers, E/Z isomers etc.) and racemates thereof as well as mixtures in different proportions of the separate enantiomers, mixtures of diastereomers, or mixtures of any of the foregoing forms where such isomers and enantiomers exist, as well as salts, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and solvates thereof such as for instance hydrates including solvates of the free compounds or solvates of a salt of the compound.

In general, substantially pure stereoisomers can be obtained according to synthetic principles known to a person skilled in the field, e.g. by separation of corresponding mixtures, by using stereochemically pure starting materials and/or by stereoselective synthesis. It is known in the art how to prepare optically active forms, such as by resolution of racemic forms or by synthesis, e.g. starting from optically active starting materials and/or by using chiral reagents.

Enantiomerically pure compounds of this invention or intermediates may be prepared via asymmetric synthesis, for example by preparation and subsequent separation of appropriate diastereomeric compounds or intermediates which can be separated by known methods (e.g. by chromatographic separation or crystallization) and/or by using chiral reagents, such as chiral starting materials, chiral catalysts or chiral auxiliaries.

Further, it is known to the person skilled in the art how to prepare enantiomerically pure compounds from the corresponding racemic mixtures, such as by chromatographic separation of the corresponding racemic mixtures on chiral stationary phases; or by resolution of a racemic mixture using an appropriate resolving agent, e.g. by means of diastereomeric salt formation of the racemic compound with optically active acids or bases, subsequent resolution of the salts and release of the desired compound from the salt; or by derivatization of the corresponding racemic compounds with optically active chiral auxiliary reagents, subsequent diastereomer separation and removal of the chiral auxiliary group; or by kinetic resolution of a racemate (e.g. by enzymatic resolution); by enantioselective crystallization from a conglomerate of enantiomorphous crystals under suitable conditions; or by (fractional) crystallization from a suitable solvent in the presence of an optically active chiral auxiliary.

The phrase “pharmaceutically acceptable” is employed herein to refer to those compounds, materials, compositions, and/or dosage forms which are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use without excessive toxicity, irritation, allergic response, or other problem or complication, and commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio.

As used herein, “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” refers to derivatives of the disclosed compounds wherein the parent compound forms a salt or a complex with an acid or a base. Examples of acids forming a pharmaceutically acceptable salt with a parent compound containing a basic moiety include mineral or organic acids such as benzenesulfonic acid, benzoic acid, citric acid, ethanesulfonic acid, fumaric acid, gentisic acid, hydrobromic acid, hydrochloric acid, maleic acid, malic acid, malonic acid, mandelic acid, methanesulfonic acid, 4-methyl-benzenesulfonic acid, phosphoric acid, salicylic acid, succinic acid, sulfuric acid and tartaric acid.

Examples for cations and bases forming a pharmaceutically acceptable salt with a parent compound containing an acidic moiety include Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, NH₄ ⁺, L-arginine, 2,2′-iminobisethanol, L-lysine, N-methyl-D-glucamine or tris(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane. The pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the present invention can be synthesized from the parent compound that contains a basic or acidic moiety by conventional chemical methods. Generally, such salts can be prepared by reacting the free acid or base forms of these compounds with a sufficient amount of the appropriate base or acid in water or in an organic diluent like ether, ethyl acetate, ethanol, isopropanol, or acetonitrile, or a mixture thereof.

Salts of other acids than those mentioned above which for example are useful for purifying or isolating the compounds of the present invention (e.g. trifluoroacetate salts) also comprise a part of the present invention.

Biological Assays

Evaluation of TRPA1 Activity

Assay A: TRPA1 Assay

The activity of the compounds of the invention may be demonstrated using the following in vitro TRPA1 cell assay:

Method:

A human HEK293 cell line over-expressing the human TRPA1 ion channel (Perkin Elmer, Product No. AX-004-PCL) is used as a test system for compound efficacy and potency. Compound activity is determined by measuring the effect of compounds on intracellular calcium concentration induced by AITC (Allylisothiocyanat) agonism in a FLIPRtetra system (Molecular Devices).

Cell Culture:

The cells are obtained as frozen cells in cryo-vials and stored until use at −150° C.

Cells are grown in culture medium (MEM/EBSS medium with 10% FCS and 0.4 mg/ML Geneticin). It is important that density does not exceed 90% confluence. For sub-culturing cells are detached from flasks by Versene. At the day before the assay, cells are detached, washed twice with medium (MEM/EBSS medium with 10% FCS) and 20000 cells in 20 μl/well are seeded to Poly D-Lysin biocoated 384-well plates (black, clear bottom, Cat. 356697) from Corning. Plates are incubated for 24 hours at 37° C./5% CO2 before use in the assay.

Compound Preparation

The test compounds are dissolved in 100% DMSO at a concentration of 10 mM and in a first step diluted in DMSO to a concentration of 5 mM, followed by serial dilution steps in 100% DMSO. Dilution factor and number of dilution steps may vary according to needs. Typically 8 different concentrations by 1:5 dilutions are prepared, further intermediate dilutions (1:20) of the substances are carried out with HBSS/HEPES buffer (1×HEPES, Cat. 14065 from Gibco, 20 mM HEPES, Cat. 83264 from SIGMA, 0.1% BSA Cat. 11926 from Invitrogen, pH 7.4

FLIPR Assay:

At the assay day cells are washed 3× with assay puffer, 20 μL buffer remaining in the wells after washing. 10 μL Ca6 kit (Cat. R8191 MolecularDevices) loading buffer in HBSS/HEPES is added to the cells and the plates are incubated with lid for 120 minutes at 37°/5% CO2. 10 μL of compound or controls in HBSS/HEPES buffer/5% DMSO from the intermediate dilution plate are carefully added to the wells. Luminescence (indicating the calcium influx or release) is read on the FLIPRtetra device for 10 minutes to monitor the compound induced effects (e.g. agonism). Finally 10 μL of the agonist AITC 50 μM dissolved in HBSS/HEPES buffer/0.05% DMSO (final concentration 10 μM) is added to the wells followed by an additional read on the FLIPRtetra device for 10 minutes. The area under the signal curve (AUC) after AITC addition is used for IC50/% inhibition calculations

Data Evaluation and Calculation:

Each assay microtiter plate contains wells with vehicle (1% DMSO) controls instead of compound as controls for AITC induced luminescence (100% CTL; high controls) and wells with vehicle controls without AITC as controls for non-specific changes in luminescence (0% CTL; low controls).

The analysis of the data is performed by the calculation of the area under signal curve of the individual wells. Based on this values the % value for the measurement of each substance concentration is calculated (AUC(sample)−AUC(low))*100/(AUC(high)−AUC(low)) using MegaLab software (in house development). The IC50 values are calculated from the % control values using MegaLab software. Calculation: [y=(a−d)/(1+(x/c){circumflex over ( )}b)+d], a=low value, d=high value; x=conc M; c=IC50 M; b=hill; y=% ctrl

TABLE 1 Biological data for compounds of the invention as obtained in Assay A hTRPA1 IC₅₀ Example [nM] 1 22 2 47 3 147 4 158 5 60 6 96 7 204 8 41 9 9 10 13 11 19 12 24 13 9 14 19 15 47 16 79

TABLE 2 Biological data for prior art compounds (examples 53, 72, 73, 86, 90 in WO2017/060488) as obtained in Assay A. Example in hTRPA1 IC₅₀ WO2017/060488 [nM] 53 36 72 14 73 28 86 67 90 41

TABLE 3 Biological data for prior art compounds (example 31 in L. Schenkel, et al., J. Med. Chem. 2016, 59, 2794-2809) as obtained in Assay A. Example in Med. Chem. hTRPA1 IC₅₀ 2016, 59, 2794-2809 [nM] 31 52

Evaluation of Microsomal Clearance

Assay B: Microsomal Clearance:

The metabolic degradation of the test compound is assayed at 37° C. with pooled liver microsomes. The final incubation volume of 100 μl per time point contains TRIS buffer pH 7.6 at RT (0.1 M), magnesium chloride (5 mM), microsomal protein (1 mg/ml) and the test compound at a final concentration of 1 μM.

Following a short preincubation period at 37° C., the reactions are initiated by addition of beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, reduced form (NADPH, 1 mM) and terminated by transferring an aliquot into solvent after different time points (0, 5, 15, 30, 60 min). Additionally, the NADPH-independent degradation is monitored in incubations without NADPH, terminated at the last time point. The [%] remaining test compound after NADPH independent incubation is reflected by the parameter c (control) (metabolic stability). The quenched incubations are pelleted by centrifugation (10000 g, 5 min).

An aliquot of the supernatant is assayed by LC-MS/MS for the amount of parent compound. The half-life (t½ INVITRO) is determined by the slope of the semilogarithmic plot of the concentration-time profile.

The intrinsic clearance (CL_INTRINSIC) is calculated by considering the amount of protein in the incubation:

CL_INTRINSIC [μl/min/mg protein]=(Ln 2/(half-life [min]*protein content [mg/ml]))*1000

CL_INTRINSIC_INVIVO [ml/min/kg]=(CL_INTRINSIC [μL/min/mg protein]×MPPGL [mg protein/g liver]×liver factor [g/kg bodyweight])/1000

Qh [%]=CL [ml/min/kg]/hepatic blood flow [ml/min/kg])

Hepatocellularity, human: 120×10e6 cells/g liver

Liver factor, human: 25.7 g/kg bodyweight

Blood flow, human: 21 ml/(min×kg)

TABLE 4 Biological data for compounds of the invention as obtained in Assay B Example human LM [% Qh] 1 <23 2 <23 3 <23 4 <23 5 <23 6 <23 7 <23 8 <23 9 41 10 <23 11 30 12 31 13 36 14 <23 15 <23 16 <23

TABLE 5 Biological data for prior art compounds (examples 53, 72, 73, 86, 90 in WO2017/060488) as obtained in Assay B. Example in human LM WO2017/060488 [% Qh] 53 <23 72 30 73 38 86 <23 90 39

TABLE 6 Biological data for prior art compounds (example 31 in L. Schenkel, et al., J. Med. Chem. 2016, 59, 2794-2809) as obtained in Assay B. Example in Med. Chem. human LM 2016, 59, 2794-2809 [% Qh] 31 <23

Evaluation of Hepatocyte Clearance

Assay C: Hepatocyte Clearance

The metabolic degradation of the test compound is assayed in a hepatocyte suspension. Hepatocytes (cryopreserved) are incubated in Dulbecco's modified eagle medium (supplemented with 3.5 μg glucagon/500 mL, 2.5 mg insulin/500 mL and 3.75 mg/500 mL hydrocortison) containing 5% species serum.

Following a 30 min preincubation in an incubator (37° C., 10% CO2) 5 μl of test compound solution (80 μM; from 2 mM in DMSO stock solution diluted 1:25 with medium) are added into 395 μl hepatocyte suspension (cell density in the range 0.25-5 Mio cells/mL depending on the species, typically 1 Mio cells/mL; final concentration of test compound 1 μM, final DMSO concentration 0.05%).

The cells are incubated for six hours (incubator, orbital shaker) and samples (251) are taken at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 6 hours. Samples are transferred into acetonitrile and pelleted by centrifugation (5 min). The supernatant is transferred to a new 96-deepwell plate, evaporated under nitrogen and resuspended.

Decline of Parent Compound is Analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS

CLint is calculated as follows CL_INTRINSIC=Dose/AUC=(C0/CD)/(AUD+clast/k)×1000/60. C0: initial concentration in the incubation [μM], CD: cell density of vital cells [10e6 cells/mL], AUD: area under the data [μM×h], clast: concentration of last data point [μM], k: slope of the regression line for parent decline [h−1].

The calculated in vitro hepatic intrinsic clearance can be scaled up to the intrinsic in vivo hepatic Clearance and used to predict hepatic in vivo blood clearance (CL) by the use of a liver model (well stirred model).

CL_INTRINSIC_INVIVO [ml/min/kg]=(CL_INTRINSIC [μL/min/10e6cells]×hepatocellularity [10e6 cells/g liver]×liver factor [g/kg bodyweight])/1000

CL [ml/min/kg]=CL_INTRINSIC_INVIVO [ml/min/kg]×hepatic blood flow [ml/min/kg]/(CL_INTRINSIC_INVIVO [ml/min/kg]+hepatic blood flow [ml/min/kg])

Qh [%]=CL [ml/min/kg]/hepatic blood flow [ml/min/kg])

Hepatocellularity, human: 120×10e6 cells/g liver

Liver factor, human: 25.7 g/kg bodyweight

Blood flow, human: 21 ml/(min×kg)

TABLE 7 Biological data for compounds of the invention as obtained in Assay C human Hepatocytes Example [% Qh] 1 10 2 14 3 13 4 9 5 23 6 9 7 9 8 39 9 43 10 29 11 35 12 42 14 43 15 12 16 14

TABLE 8 Biological data for prior art compounds (examples 53, 72, 73, 86, 90 in WO2017/060488) as obtained in Assay C. Example in human Hepatocytes WO2017/060488 [% Qh] 53 25 72 50 73 36 86 12 90 61

TABLE 9 Biological data for prior art compounds (example 31 in L. Schenkel, et al., J. Med. Chem. 2016, 59, 2794-2809) as obtained in Assay C. Example in Med. Chem. human Hepatocytes 2016, 59, 2794-2809 [% Qh] 31 73

Evaluation of Permeability

Caco-2 cells (1-2×10⁵ cells/1 cm² area) are seeded on filter inserts (Costar transwell polycarbonate or PET filters, 0.4 μm pore size) and cultured (DMEM) for 10 to 25 days. Compounds are dissolved in appropriate solvent (like DMSO, 1-20 mM stock solutions). Stock solutions are diluted with HTP-4 buffer (128.13 mM NaCl, 5.36 mM KCl, 1 mM MgSO₄, 1.8 mM CaCl₂, 4.17 mM NaHCO₃, 1.19 mM Na₂HPO₄×7H₂O, 0.41 mM NaH₂PO₄×H₂O, 15 mM HEPES, 20 mM glucose, 0.25% BSA, pH 7.2) to prepare the transport solutions (0.1-300 μM compound, final DMSO<=0.5%). The transport solution (TL) is applied to the apical or basolateral donor side for measuring A-B or B-A permeability (3 filter replicates), respectively. Samples are collected at the start and end of experiment from the donor and at various time intervals for up to 2 hours also from the receiver side for concentration measurement by HPLC-MS/MS or scintillation counting. Sampled receiver volumes are replaced with fresh receiver solution.

Evaluation of Plasma Protein Binding

This equilibrium dialysis (ED) technique is used to determine the approximate in vitro fractional binding of test compounds to plasma proteins. Dianorm Teflon dialysis cells (micro 0.2) are used. Each cell consists of a donor and an acceptor chamber, separated by an ultrathin semipermeable membrane with a 5 kDa molecular weight cutoff. Stock solutions for each test compound are prepared in DMSO at 1 mM and diluted to a final concentration of 1.0 μM. The subsequent dialysis solutions are prepared in pooled human or rat plasma (with NaEDTA) from male and female donors. Aliquots of 200 μL dialysis buffer (100 mM potassium phosphate, pH 7.4) are dispensed into the buffer chamber. Aliquots of 200 μL test compound dialysis solution are dispensed into the plasma chambers. Incubation is carried out for 2 hours under rotation at 37° C.

At the end of the dialysis period, the dialysate is transferred into reaction tubes. The tubes for the buffer fraction contain 0.2 mL ACN/water (80/20). Aliquots of 25 μL of the plasma dialysate are transferred into deep well plates and mixed with 25 μL ACN/water (80/20), 25 μL buffer, 25 μL calibration solution and 25 μL Internal Standard solution. Protein precipitation is done by adding 200 μL ACN. Aliquots of 50 μL of the buffer dialysate are transferred into deep well plates and mixed with 25 μL blank plasma, 25 μL Internal Standard solution and 200 μL ACN. Samples are measured on HPLC-MS/MS-Systems and evaluated with Analyst-Software. Percent bound is calculated with the formula: % bound=(plasma concentration−buffer concentration/plasma 30 concentration)×100.

Evaluation of Solubility

Saturated solutions are prepared in well plates (format depends on robot) by adding an appropriate volume of selected aqueous media (typically in the range of 0.25-1.5 ml) into each well which contains a known quantity of solid drug substance (typically in the range 0.5-5.0 mg). The wells are shaken or stirred for a predefined time period (typically in a range of 2-24 h) and than filtered using appropriate filter membranes (typically PTFE-filters with 0.45 μm pore size). Filter absorption is avoided by discarding the first few drops of filtrate. The amount of dissolved drug substance is determined by UV spectroscopy. In addition the pH of the aqueous saturated solution is measured using a glass-electrode pH meter.

Evaluation of Pharmacokinetic Characteristics

The test compound is administered either intravenously or orally to the respective test species. Blood samples are taken at several time points post application of the test compound, anticoagulated and centrifuged.

The concentration of analytes—the administered compound and/or metabolites—are quantified in the plasma samples. PK parameters are calculated using non compartment methods. AUC and Cmax are normalized to a dose of 1 μmol/kg.

Evaluation of Metabolism in Human Hepatocytes In Vitro

The metabolic pathway of a test compound is investigated using primary human hepatocytes in suspension. After recovery from cryopreservation, human hepatocytes are incubated in Dulbecco's modified eagle medium containing 5% human serum and supplemented with 3.5 μg glucagon/500 ml, 2.5 mg insulin/500 ml and 3.75 mg/500 ml hydrocortisone.

Following a 30 min preincubation in a cell culture incubator (37° C., 10% CO₂), test compound solution is spiked into the hepatocyte suspension to obtain a final cell density of 1.0*10⁶ to 4.0*10⁶ cells/ml (depending on the metabolic turnover rate of the compound observed with primary human hepatocytes), a final test compound concentration of 10 μM, and a final DMSO concentration of 0.05%.

The cells are incubated for six hours in a cell culture incubator on a horizontal shaker, and samples are removed from the incubation after 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 or 6 hours, depending on the metabolic turnover rate. Samples are quenched with acetonitrile and pelleted by centrifugation. The supernatant is transferred to a 96-deepwell plate, evaporated under nitrogen and resuspended prior to bioanalysis by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry for identification of putative metabolites.

The structures are assigned tentatively based on Fourier-Transform-MS^(n) data. Metabolites are reported as percentage of the parent in human hepatocyte incubation with a threshold of ≥4%.

Method of Treatment

The present invention is directed to compounds of general formula 1 which are useful in the prevention and/or treatment of a disease and/or condition associated with or modulated by TRPA1 activity, including but not limited to the treatment and/or prevention of fibrotic disease, inflammatory and immunoregulatory disorders, respiratory or gastrointestinal diseases or complaints, ophthalmic diseases, inflammatory diseases of the joints and inflammatory diseases of the nasopharynx, eyes, and skin and pain and neurological disorders. Said disorders, diseases and complaints include cough, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, other pulmonary interstitial diseases and other fibrotic, asthma or allergic diseases, eosinophilic diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as well as inflammatory and immunoregulatory disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis, as well as pain and neurological disorders, such as acute pain, surgical pain, chronic pain and depression and bladder disorders.

The compounds of general formula 1 are useful for the prevention and/or treatment of:

(1) Cough such as chronic idiopathic cough or chronic refractory cough, cough associated with asthma, COPD, lung cancer, post-viral infection and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and other pulmonary interstitial diseases.

(2) Pulmonary fibrotic diseases such as pneumonitis or interstitial pneumonitis associated with collagenosis, e.g. lupus erythematodes, systemic scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis and dermatomysitis, idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, such as pulmonary lung fibrosis (IPF), non-specific interstitial pneumonia, respiratory bronchiolitis associated interstitial lung disease, desquamative interstitial pneumonia, cryptogenic orgainizing pneumonia, acute interstitial pneumonia and lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia, lymangioleiomyomatosis, pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, Langerhan's cell histiocytosis, pleural parenchymal fibroelastosis, interstitial lung diseases of known cause, such as interstitial pneumonitis as a result of occupational exposures such as asbestosis, silicosis, miners lung (coal dust), farmers lung (hay and mould), Pidgeon fanciers lung (birds) or other occupational airbourne triggers such as metal dust or mycobacteria, or as a result of treatment such as radiation, methotrexate, amiodarone, nitrofurantoin or chemotherapeutics, or for granulomatous disease, such as granulomatosis with polyangitis, Churg-Strauss syndrome, sarcoidosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, or interstitial pneumonitis caused by different origins, e.g. aspiration, inhalation of toxic gases, vapors, bronchitis or pneumonitis or interstitial pneumonitis caused by heart failure, X-rays, radiation, chemotherapy, M. boeck or sarcoidosis, granulomatosis, cystic fibrosis or mucoviscidosis, alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, acute lung injury as a result of Covid-19/SARS-Cov-2 infection or pulmonary fibrosis secondary to Covid-19/SARS-Cov-2 infection.

(3) Other fibrotic diseases such as hepatic bridging fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), atrial fibrosis, endomyocardial fibrosis, old myocardial infarction, glial scar, arterial stiffness, arthrofibrosis, Dupuytren's contracture, keloid, scleroderma/systemic sclerosis, mediastinal fibrosis, myelofibrosis, Peyronie's disease, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, retroperitoneal fibrosis, adhesive capsulitis.

(4) Inflammatory, auto-immune or allergic diseases and conditions such as allergic or non-allergic rhinitis or sinusitis, chronic sinusitis or rhinitis, nasal polyposis, chronic rhinosinusitis, acute rhinosinusitis, asthma, pediatric asthma, allergic bronchitis, alveolitis, hyperreactive airways, allergic conjunctivitis, bronchiectasis, adult respiratory distress syndrome, bronchial and pulmonary edema, bronchitis or pneumonitis, eosinophilic cellulites (e.g., Well's syndrome), eosinophilic pneumonias (e.g., Loeffler's syndrome, chronic eosinophilic pneumonia), eosinophilic fasciitis (e. g., Shulman's syndrome), delayed-type hypersensitivity, non-allergic asthma; exercise induced bronchoconstriction; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute bronchitis, chronic bronchitis, cough, pulmonary emphysema; systemic anaphylaxis or hypersensitivity responses, drug allergies (e.g., to penicillin, cephalosporin), eosinophiliamyalgia syndrome due to the ingestion of contaminated tryptophane, insect sting allergies; autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Graves' disease, Sjogren's syndrome psoriatic arthritis, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, myasthenia gravis, immune thrombocytopenia (adult ITP, neonatal thrombocytopenia, pediatric ITP), immune hemolytic anemia (auto-immune and drug induced), Evans syndrome (platelet and red cell immune cytopaenias), Rh disease of the newborn, Goodpasture's syndrome (anti-GBM disease), Celiac, autoimmune cardio-myopathy juvenile onset diabetes; glomerulonephritis, autoimmune thyroiditis, Behcet's disease; graft rejection (e.g., in transplantation), including allograft rejection or graft versus-host disease; inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis; spondyloarthropathies; scleroderma; psoriasis (including T-cell mediated psoriasis) and inflammatory dermatoses such as an dermatitis, eczema, atopic dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, urticaria; vasculitis (e. g., necrotizing, cutaneous, and hypersensitivity vasculitis); erythema nodosum; eosinophilic myositis, eosinophilic fasciitis, cancers with leukocyte infiltration of the skin or organs; ophthalmic diseases such as age related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema, keratitis, eosinophilic keratitis, keratoconjunctivitis, vernal keratoconjunctivitis, scarring, anterior segment scarring, blepharitis, blepharoconjunctivitis, bullous disorders, cicatricial pemphigoid, conjunctival melanoma, papillary conjunctivitis, dry eye, episcleritis, glaucoma, gliosis, Granuloma annulare, Graves' ophthalmopathy, intraocular melanoma, Pinguecula, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, pterygia, scleritis, uveitis, acute gout flares, gout or osteoarthritis.

(5) Pain such as chronic idiopathic pain syndrome, neuropathic pain, dysesthesia, allodynia, migraine, dental pain and post-surgical pain.

(6) Depression, anxiousness, diabetic neuropathy and bladder disorders such as bladder outlet obstruction, overactive bladder, cystitis; myocardial reperfusion injury or brain ischaemia injury.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a compound of general formula 1 for use as a medicament.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of a compound of general formula 1 for the treatment and/or prevention of a disease and/or condition associated with or modulated by TRPA1 activity.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of a compound of general formula 1 for the treatment and/or prevention of fibrotic disease, inflammatory and immunoregulatory disorders, respiratory or gastrointestinal diseases or complaints, ophthalmic diseases, inflammatory diseases of the joints and inflammatory diseases of the nasopharynx, eyes, and skin, pain and neurological disorders. Said disorders, diseases and complaints include cough, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, other pulmonary interstitial diseases and other fibrotic, asthma or allergic diseases, eosinophilic diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as well as inflammatory and immunoregulatory disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis, as well as pain and neurological disorders, such as acute pain, surgical pain, chronic pain and depression and bladder disorders.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of a compound of general formula 1 for the treatment and/or prevention of:

(1) Cough such as chronic idiopathic cough or chronic refractory cough, cough associated with asthma, COPD, lung cancer, post-viral infection and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and other pulmonary interstitial diseases.

(2) Pulmonary fibrotic diseases such as pneumonitis or interstitial pneumonitis associated with collagenosis, e.g. lupus erythematodes, systemic scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis and dermatomysitis, idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, such as pulmonary lung fibrosis (IPF), non-specific interstitial pneumonia, respiratory bronchiolitis associated interstitial lung disease, desquamative interstitial pneumonia, cryptogenic orgainizing pneumonia, acute interstitial pneumonia and lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia, lymangioleiomyomatosis, pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, Langerhan's cell histiocytosis, pleural parenchymal fibroelastosis, interstitial lung diseases of known cause, such as interstitial pneumonitis as a result of occupational exposures such as asbestosis, silicosis, miners lung (coal dust), farmers lung (hay and mould), Pidgeon fanciers lung (birds) or other occupational airbourne triggers such as metal dust or mycobacteria, or as a result of treatment such as radiation, methotrexate, amiodarone, nitrofurantoin or chemotherapeutics, or for granulomatous disease, such as granulomatosis with polyangitis, Churg-Strauss syndrome, sarcoidosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, or interstitial pneumonitis caused by different origins, e.g. aspiration, inhalation of toxic gases, vapors, bronchitis or pneumonitis or interstitial pneumonitis caused by heart failure, X-rays, radiation, chemotherapy, M. boeck or sarcoidosis, granulomatosis, cystic fibrosis or mucoviscidosis, alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, acute lung injury as a result of Covid-19/SARS-Cov-2 infection or pulmonary fibrosis secondary to Covid-19/SARS-Cov-2 infection.

(3) Other fibrotic diseases such as hepatic bridging fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), atrial fibrosis, endomyocardial fibrosis, old myocardial infarction, glial scar, arterial stiffness, arthrofibrosis, Dupuytren's contracture, keloid, scleroderma/systemic sclerosis, mediastinal fibrosis, myelofibrosis, Peyronie's disease, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, retroperitoneal fibrosis, adhesive capsulitis.

(4) Inflammatory, auto-immune or allergic diseases and conditions such as allergic or non-allergic rhinitis or sinusitis, chronic sinusitis or rhinitis, nasal polyposis, chronic rhinosinusitis, acute rhinosinusitis, asthma, pediatric asthma, allergic bronchitis, alveolitis, hyperreactive airways, allergic conjunctivitis, bronchiectasis, adult respiratory distress syndrome, bronchial and pulmonary edema, bronchitis or pneumonitis, eosinophilic cellulites (e.g., Well's syndrome), eosinophilic pneumonias (e.g., Loeffler's syndrome, chronic eosinophilic pneumonia), eosinophilic fasciitis (e. g., Shulman's syndrome), delayed-type hypersensitivity, non-allergic asthma; exercise induced bronchoconstriction; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute bronchitis, chronic bronchitis, cough, pulmonary emphysema; systemic anaphylaxis or hypersensitivity responses, drug allergies (e.g., to penicillin, cephalosporin), eosinophiliamyalgia syndrome due to the ingestion of contaminated tryptophane, insect sting allergies; autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Graves' disease, Sjogren's syndrome psoriatic arthritis, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, myasthenia gravis, immune thrombocytopenia (adult ITP, neonatal thrombocytopenia, pediatric ITP), immune hemolytic anemia (auto-immune and drug induced), Evans syndrome (platelet and red cell immune cytopaenias), Rh disease of the newborn, Goodpasture's syndrome (anti-GBM disease), Celiac, autoimmune cardio-myopathy juvenile onset diabetes; glomerulonephritis, autoimmune thyroiditis, Behcet's disease; graft rejection (e.g., in transplantation), including allograft rejection or graft versus-host disease; inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis; spondyloarthropathies; scleroderma; psoriasis (including T-cell mediated psoriasis) and inflammatory dermatoses such as an dermatitis, eczema, atopic dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, urticaria; vasculitis (e. g., necrotizing, cutaneous, and hypersensitivity vasculitis); erythema nodosum; eosinophilic myositis, eosinophilic fasciitis, cancers with leukocyte infiltration of the skin or organs; ophthalmic diseases such as age related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema, keratitis, eosinophilic keratitis, keratoconjunctivitis, vernal keratoconjunctivitis, scarring, anterior segment scarring, blepharitis, blepharoconjunctivitis, bullous disorders, cicatricial pemphigoid, conjunctival melanoma, papillary conjunctivitis, dry eye, episcleritis, glaucoma, gliosis, Granuloma annulare, Graves' ophthalmopathy, intraocular melanoma, Pinguecula, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, pterygia, scleritis, uveitis, acute gout flares, gout or osteoarthritis.

(5) Pain such as chronic idiopathic pain syndrome, neuropathic pain, dysesthesia, allodynia, migraine, dental pain and post-surgical pain.

(6) Depression, anxiousness, diabetic neuropathy and bladder disorders such as bladder outlet obstruction, overactive bladder, cystitis; myocardial reperfusion injury or brain ischaemia injury.

In a further aspect the present invention relates to a compound of general formula 1 for use in the treatment and/or prevention of above mentioned diseases and conditions.

In a further aspect the present invention relates to the use of a compound of general formula 1 for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment and/or prevention of above mentioned diseases and conditions.

In a further aspect of the present invention the present invention relates to methods for the treatment or prevention of above mentioned diseases and conditions, which method comprises the administration of an effective amount of a compound of general formula 1 to a human being.

Combination Therapy

The compounds of the invention may further be combined with one or more, preferably one additional therapeutic agent. According to one embodiment the additional therapeutic agent is selected from the group of therapeutic agents useful in the treatment of diseases or conditions described hereinbefore, in particular associated with fibrotic diseases, inflammatory and immunoregulatory disorders, respiratory or gastrointestinal diseases or complaints, inflammatory diseases of the joints or of the nasopharynx, eyes, and skin or conditions such as for example cough, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, other pulmonary interstitial diseases, asthma or allergic diseases, eosinophilic diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, atopic dermatitis as well as autoimmune pathologies, such as rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis, or therapeutic agents useful for the treatment of ophthalmic diseases, pain and depression.

Additional therapeutic agents that are suitable for such combinations include in particular those, which, for example, potentiate the therapeutic effect of one or more active substances with respect to one of the indications mentioned and/or allow the dosage of one or more active substances to be reduced.

Therefore, a compound of the invention may be combined with one or more additional therapeutic agents selected from the group consisting of antifibrotic agents, anti-tussive agents, anti-inflammatory agents, anti-atopic dermatitis agents, analgesics, anti-convulsants, anxiolytics, sedatives, skeletal muscle relaxants or anti-depressants.

Antifibrotic agents are for example nintedanib, pirfenidone, phosphodiesterase-IV (PDE4) inhibitors such as roflumilast, autotaxin inhibitors such as GLPG-1690 or BBT-877; connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) blocking antibodies such as Pamrevlumab; B-cell activating factor receptor (BAFF-R) blocking antibodies such as Lanalumab; alpha-V/beta-6 blocking inhibitors such as BG-00011/STX-100, recombinant pentraxin-2 (PTX-2) such as PRM-151; c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitors such as CC-90001; galectin-3 inhibitors such as TD-139; G-protein coupled receptor 84 (GPR84) inhibitors such as GLPG1205; G-protein coupled receptor 84/G-protein coupled receptor 40 dual inhibitors such as PBI-4050; Rho Associated Coiled-Coil Containing Protein Kinase 2 (ROCK2) inhibitors such as KD-025; heat shock protein 47 (HSP47) small interfering RNA such as BMS986263/ND-L02-s0201; Wnt pathway inhibitor such as SM-04646; LD4/PDE3/4 inhibitors such as Tipelukast; recombinant immuno-modulatory domains of histidyl tRNA synthetase (HARS) such as ATYR-1923; prostaglandin synthase inhibitors such as ZL-2102/SAR-191801; 15-hydroxy-eicosapentaenoic acid (15-HEPE e.g. DS-102); Lysyl Oxidase Like 2 (LOXL2) inhibitors such as PAT-1251, PXS-5382/PXS-5338; phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) dual inhibitors such as HEC68498; calpain inhibitors such as BLD-2660; mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAP3K19) inhibitors such as MG-S-2525; chitinase inhibitors such as OATD-01; mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MAPKAPK2) inhibitors such as MMI-0100; transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta1) small interfering RNA such as TRK250/BNC-1021; or lysophosphatidic acid receptor antagonists such as BMS986278.

Anti-tussive agents are, for example, purinoceptor 3 (P2X3) receptor antagonists such as gefapixant, S-600918, BAY-1817080, or BLU-5937; neurokinin 1 (NK-1) receptor antagonist such as Orvepitant, Aprepitant; nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha 7 subunit stimulator such as ATA-101/bradanicline; codeine, gabapentin, pregablin, or azithromycin. Anti-inflammatory agents are, for example, corticosteroids such as prednisolone or dexamethasone; cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX2) inhibitors such as celecoxib, rofecoxib, parecoxib, valdecoxib, deracoxib, etoricoxib or lumiracoxib; prostaglandin E2 antagonists; leukotriene B4 antagonists; leukotriene D4 antagonists such as monteleukast; 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors; or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, diclofenac, diflunisal, etodolac, ibuprofen or indomethacin.

Anti-atopic dermatitis agents are, for example, cyclosporin, methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, phosphodiesterase inhibitors (e.g. apremilast, crisaborole), Janus Associated Kinase (JAK) inhibitors (e.g. tofacitinib), neutralizing antibodies against IL-4/IL13 (e.g. dupilamab), IL-13 (e.g. lebrikizumab, tralokinumab) and IL-31 (nemolizumab). Analgesics are, for example, of the opioid type, such as morphine, oxymorphine, levopanol, oxycodon, propoxyphene, nalmefene, fentanyl, hydrocondon, hydromorphone, meripidine, methadone, nalorphine, naloxone, naltrexone, buprenorphine, butorphanol, nalbuphine, pentazocine; or of the non-opioid type, such as acetophenamine.

Anti-depressants are, for example, tricyclic anti-depressants such as amitriptyline, clomipramine, despramine, doxepin, desipramine, imipramine, nortriptyline; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor anti-depressants (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, citalopram, escitalopram; norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor anti-depressants (SNRIs) such as maprotiline, lofepramine, mirtazapine, oxaprotiline, fezolamine, tomoxetine, mianserin, buproprion, hydroxybuproprion, nomifensine, viloxazine; dual serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor anti-depressants (SNRIs) such as duloxetine, venlafaxine, desvenlafaxine, levomilnacipran; atypical antidepressants such as trazodone, mirtazapine, vortioxetine, vilazodone, bupropion; or monoamine oxidase inhibitor anti-depressants (MAOIs) such as tranylcypromine, phenelzine, or isocarboxazid.

Anxiolytics are, for example, benzodiazepines such as alprazolam, bromazepam, chlordiazepoxide, clonazepam, clorazepate, diazepam, flurazepam, lorazepam, oxazepam, temazepam, triazolam, or tofisopam; or they are nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics such as eszopiclone, zaleplon, zolpidem, or zopiclone; or they are carbamates e.g. meprobamate, carisoprodol, tybamate, or lorbamate; or they are antihistamines such as hydroxyzine, chlorpheniramine or diphenhydramine.

Sedatives are, for example, barbiturate sedatives, such as amobarbital, aprobarbital, butabarbital, butabital, mephobarbital, metharbital, methohexital, pentobarbital, secobarbital, talbutal, theamylal, or thiopental; or they are non-barbiturate sedatives such as glutethimide, meprobamate, methaqualone or dichloalphenazone.

Skeletal muscle relaxants are, for example, baclofen, meprobamate, carisoprodol, cyclobenzaprine, metaxalone, methocarbamol, tizanidine, chlorzoxazone or orphenadrine. Other suitable combination partners are inhibitors of Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors such as donepezil; 5-HT-3 anatgonists such as ondansetron; metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonists; antiarrhythmics such as mexiletine or phenytoin; or NMDA receptor antagonists. Further suitable combination partners are incontinence medications, for example, anticholinergics such as oxybutynin, tolterodine, darifenacin, fesoterodine, solifenacin or trospium; or they are bladder muscle relaxants such as mirabegron; or they are alpha blockers such as tamsulosin, alfuzosin, silodosin, doxazosin or terazosin.

The dosage for the combination partners mentioned above is usually ⅕ of the lowest dose normally recommended up to 1/1 of the normally recommended dose.

Therefore, in another aspect, this invention relates to the use of a compound according to the invention in combination with one or more additional therapeutic agents described hereinbefore and hereinafter for the treatment of diseases or conditions which may be affected or which are mediated by TRPA1, in particular diseases or conditions as described hereinbefore and hereinafter.

In a further aspect this invention relates to a method for treating a disease or condition which can be influenced by the inhibition of TRPA1 in a patient that includes the step of administering to the patient in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in combination with a therapeutically effective amount of one or more additional therapeutic agents.

In a further aspect this invention relates to the use of a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in combination with one or more additional therapeutic agents for the treatment of diseases or conditions which can be influenced by the inhibition of TRPA1 in a patient in need thereof.

In yet another aspect the present invention relates to a method for the treatment of a disease or condition mediated by TRPA1 activity in a patient that includes the step of administering to the patient, preferably a human, in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the present invention in combination with a therapeutically effective amount of one or more additional therapeutic agents described in hereinbefore and hereinafter.

The use of the compound according to the invention in combination with the additional therapeutic agent may take place simultaneously or at staggered times.

The compound according to the invention and the one or more additional therapeutic agents may both be present together in one formulation, for example a tablet or capsule, or separately in two identical or different formulations, for example as a so-called kit-of-parts.

Consequently, in another aspect, this invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition that comprises a compound according to the invention and one or more additional therapeutic agents described hereinbefore and hereinafter, optionally together with one or more inert carriers and/or diluents.

In yet another aspect the present invention relates to the use of a compound according to the invention in a cough-measuring device.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed examples which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

Preparation

The compounds according to the present invention and their intermediates may be obtained using methods of synthesis which are known to the one skilled in the art and described in the literature of organic synthesis. Preferably, the compounds are obtained in analogous fashion to the methods of preparation explained more fully hereinafter, in particular as described in the experimental section. In some cases, the order in carrying out the reaction steps may be varied. Variants of the reaction methods that are known to the one skilled in the art but not described in detail here may also be used.

The general processes for preparing the compounds according to the invention will become apparent to the one skilled in the art studying the following schemes. Any functional groups in the starting materials or intermediates may be protected using conventional protecting groups. These protecting groups may be cleaved again at a suitable stage within the reaction sequence using methods familiar to the one skilled in the art.

The compounds according to the invention are prepared by the methods of synthesis described hereinafter in which the substituents of the general formulae have the meanings given herein before. These methods are intended as an illustration of the invention without restricting its subject matter and the scope of the compounds claimed to these examples. Where the preparation of starting compounds is not described, they are commercially obtainable or may be prepared analogously to known compounds or methods described herein. Substances described in the literature are prepared according to the published methods of synthesis. Abbreviations are as defined in the Examples section.

In scheme 1, compounds of formula I and II can be synthesized via N-alkylation of the appropriate heteroaromatic intermediates (A) or (B) with chloromethylen-oxadiazoles (D) in presence of a base such as potassium carbonate. Alternatively, carboxylic acid (C) can be activated, e.g. with CDI, and condensed with dihydroxypropanimidamides (E) to yield compounds of type II.

In scheme 2, alpha-cyano ketones of substructure (F) are reduced in an enantioselective fashion by using appropriate catalytic systems using a transition metal complex (of e.g. Ru or Ir) in combination with a chiral ligand (e.g. [(1S,2S)-(−)-2-amino-1,2-diphenylethyl](4-toluenesulfonyl)amido) and a hydrogen source such as formic acid triethylamine complex.

Hydroxylamine is added to the corresponding cyano-alcohols (G) to provide the dihydroxypropanimidamides (E). Ring-closure to chloromethylen-oxadiazoles (D) can be achieved by stirring the reaction mixture together with chloro acetyl chloride in presence of a base such as DIPEA.

In scheme 3, 4,5-dichloro-2H-pyridazin-3-one can be N-alkylated with an appropriate protecting group such as benzyloxymethyl chloride (Bom-Cl) in presence of a base such as DBU. Subsequently, substitution of the 4-Cl with nitrite and the 5-Cl position of (H) with hydroxide provides intermediate (J), which can be further reacted with ammonia to give (K). Reduction of the nitro group using an appropriate catalyst such as PtO₂ under a hydrogen atmosphere yields the di-amine (L), which can be further reacted with carbonyl diimidazole (CDI) to give (M). Finally, di-alkylation with a methylating reagent such as methyl iodide in presence of a base such as potassium carbonate, and cleavage of the protecting group gives intermediate (A).

In Scheme 4, imidazole (O) can be alkylated with an appropriate methylating reagent such as methyl iodide (Mel) in presence of a base such as potassium carbonate. Intermediate (P) can be reacted to aldehyde (R) via reduction, with e.g. di-iso butyl aluminium hydride (DIBAL-H), and subsequent oxidation, e.g. with manganese (IV) oxide. Condensation of (R) with hydrazine under acidic conditions gives (S), which can be further reduced to intermediate (B). Finally, alkylation of (B) with tert-butyl bromoacetate in presence of a base such as potassium carbonate provides ester (T), which can be hydrolyzed under acid conditions to give (C).

EXAMPLES

Preparation

The compounds according to the invention and their intermediates may be obtained using methods of synthesis which are known to the one skilled in the art and described in the literature of organic synthesis for example using methods described in “Comprehensive Organic Transformations”, 2nd Edition, Richard C. Larock, John Wiley & Sons, 2010, and “March's Advanced Organic Chemistry”, 7th Edition, Michael B. Smith, John Wiley & Sons, 2013. Preferably the compounds are obtained analogously to the methods of preparation explained more fully hereinafter, in particular as described in the experimental section. In some cases the sequence adopted in carrying out the reaction schemes may be varied. Variants of these reactions that are known to the skilled artisan but are not described in detail herein may also be used. The general processes for preparing the compounds according to the invention will become apparent to the skilled man on studying the schemes that follow. Starting compounds are commercially available or may be prepared by methods that are described in the literature or herein, or may be prepared in an analogous or similar manner. Before the reaction is carried out, any corresponding functional groups in the starting compounds may be protected using conventional protecting groups. These protecting groups may be cleaved again at a suitable stage within the reaction sequence using methods familiar to the skilled man and described in the literature for example in “Protecting Groups”, 3rd Edition, Philip J. Kocienski, Thieme, 2005, and “Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis”, 4th Edition, Peter G. M. Wuts, Theodora W. Greene, John Wiley & Sons, 2006. The terms “ambient temperature” and “room temperature” are used interchangeably and designate a temperature of about 20° C., e.g. between 19 and 24° C.

Abbreviations: ACN acetonitrile Aq. aqueous Bom Benzyloxymethyl ° C. Degree celsius CDI Carbonyl diimidazole CyH/CH cyclohexane conc. concentrated DBU 1,8-diazabicycloundec-7-ene DCM dichloro methane DCE 1,2-Dichloroethane DIPEA N,N-diisopropylethylamine DMA N,N-dimethylacetamide DMF N,N-dimethylformamide DMSO dimethyl sulfoxide ESI-MS Electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry EtOAc ethyl acetate EtOH ethanol ex example eq equivalent FA formic acid h hour HATU 1-[Bis(dimethylamino)methylene]-1H-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-b] pyridinium3-oxid hexafluorophosphate HCl Hydrochloric acid HPLC High performance liquid chromatography Int. intermediate K₂CO₃ potassium carbonate K(OtBu) Potassium tert. butoxide L liter M molar MeOH methanol MgSO₄ magnesium sulphate min minute mL milliliter MTBE tert-butylmethylether NaOEt Sodium ethanolate NH₃ ammonia NMP N-methyl-2-pyrrolidon PE Petrol ether RT room temperature (about 20° C.) sat. saturated TBTU Benzotriazolyl tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate TEA triethylamine TFA trifluoroacetic acid THF Tetrahydrofuran TMS-Cl Trimethylsilyl chloride

Preparation of Intermediates

Intermediate I

Intermediate I.1 (General Route)

(3S)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-hydroxypropanenitrile

10.0 g (55.7 mmol) 4-Chlorobenzoylacetonitrile are added to 100 mL ACN under inert atmosphere. 142 mg (0.23 mmol) Chloro([(1S,2S)-2-amino-1,2-diphenylethyl](4-toluenesulfonyl)amido)(mesitylene)ruthenium (II) (CAS 174813-81-1) are added, followed by dropwise addition of 8.30 mL (19.8 mmol) formic acid triethylamine complex (5:2). After stirring at RT for 3 h, the solvent is removed in vacuo. To the remaining crude mixture is added water and this mixture is extracted two times with EtOAc. The organic layers are combined, dried over MgSO₄, filtered, and the solvent is removed in vacuo to provide intermediate I.1.

C₉H₈ClNO (M=181.6 g/mol)

ESI-MS: 226 [M+HCOO]⁻

R_(t) (HPLC): 0.81 min (method B)

The following compounds are prepared using procedures analogous to those described for intermediate I.1 using appropriate starting materials. As is appreciated by those skilled in the art, these analogous examples may involve variations in general reaction conditions.

HPLC retention time [min] (method), or 1H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO-d6) Int. Starting materials Structure ESI-MS δ ppm I.2

187 [M*]⁺ 0.41 (A) I.3

184 [M + Na]⁺ 0.76 (B) I.4

188 [M + Na]⁺ 0.72 (B) I.5

214 [M + Na]⁺ 0.64 (B) 1.6

248/250 [M + Na]⁺ 0.43 (A) 1.7 IV.1

266 [M + HCOO]⁻ 3.03 (L) 1.8

— δ 7.98-7.91 (m, 1 H), 7.82-7.77 (m, 1 H), 7.37-7.31 (m, 3 H), 6.56 (d, J = 5.0 Hz, 1 H), 5.28-5.20 (m, 1 H), 3.14-2.94 (m, 2 H) 1.9 IV.2

266 [M + HCOO]⁻ 3.12 (L) 1.10 IV.3

— δ 7.63-7.56 (m, 1 H), 7.46 (dd, J = 8.9, 2.7 Hz, 1 H), 7.14 (td, J = 9.2, 2.7 Hz, 1 H), 6.88 (s, 1 H), 6.41 (d, J = 5.5 Hz, 1 H), 5.10-5.01 (m, 1 H), 3.16-2.98 (m, 2 H)

Intermediate II

Intermediate II.1 (General Route)

(3S)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-N,3-dihydroxypropanimidamidl

To 9.82 g (54.1 mmol) (3S)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-hydroxypropanenitrile (intermediate 1.1) in 100 mL MeOH are added 8.00 mL (136 mmol) hydroxylamine (50% in water) and the mixture is stirred at 75° C. for 1.5 h. After cooling to RT, all volatiles are removed in vacuo to yield the crude product, which is used without further purification.

C₉H₁₁ClN₂O₂ (M=214.6 g/mol)

ESI-MS: 215 [M+H]⁺

R_(t) (HPLC): 0.60 min (method B)

The following compounds are prepared using procedures analogous to those described for intermediate I1.1 using appropriate starting materials. As is appreciated by those skilled in the art, these analogous examples may involve variations in general reaction conditions.

HPLC retention time Starting [min] Int. materials Structure ESI-MS (method) II.2 I.2

221 [M + H]⁺ 0.27 (A) II.3 I.3

195 [M + H]⁺ 0.57 (B) II.4 I.4

199 [M + H]⁺ 0.43 (B) II.5 I.5

225 [M + H]⁺ 0.24 (B) II.6 1.6

259/261 [M + H]⁺ 0.66 (B) II.7 I.7

255 [M + H]⁺ 2.07 (L) II.8 I.8

237 [M + H]⁺ 1.93 (L) II.9 I.9

255 [M + H]⁺ 2.18 (L) II.10  I.10

239 [M + H]⁺ 1.90 (L)

Intermediate III

Intermediate III.1 (General Route)

(1S)-2-[5-(chloromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl]-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethan-1-ol

To 11.2 g (52.4 mmol) of intermediate 11.1 in 55 mL NMP are added 10.0 mL (57.8 mmol) DIPEA. The mixture is cooled to 0° C. before 4.60 mL (57.7 mmol) chloroacetyl chloride dissolved in 5 mL NMP are slowly added and the mixture is stirred at 0° C. for 45 min. The mixture is then heated up to 95° C. and stirring is continued for 4 h. After cooling down to RT, 200 mL water are added and the resulting mixture is extracted three times with EtOAc.

The organic layers are combined, dried over MgSO₄, filtered and the solvent is removed in vacuo. The residue is purified by column chromatography (silica gel; PE/EtOAc, 7/3).

C₁₁H₁₀Cl₂N₂O₂ (M=273.1 g/mol)

ESI-MS: 271 [M−H]⁻

R_(t) (HPLC): 0.93 min (method B)

The following compounds are prepared using procedures analogous to those described for intermediate 111.1 using appropriate starting materials. As is appreciated by those skilled in the art, these analogous examples may involve variations in general reaction conditions.

HPLC retention Starting time [min] Int. materials Structure ESI-MS (method) III.2 II.2

301 [M + Na]⁺ 0.90 (B) III.3 II.3

251 [M − H]⁻ 0.92 (C) III.4 II.4

255 [M − H]⁻ 0.86 (B) III.5 II.5

281 [M − H]⁻ 0.82 (G) III.6 II.7

311 [M − H]⁻ 6.02 (M) III.7 II.8

295 [M + H]⁺ 5.88 (M) III.8 II.9

311 [M − H]⁻ 6.12 (M) III.9  II.10

295 [M − H]⁻ 5.67 (M)

Intermediate IV

Intermediate IV.1 (General Route)

3-(6-fluoro-1-benzothiophen-2-yl)-3-oxopropanenitrile

To 0.63 g (3.00 mmol) methyl 6-fluoro-1-benzothiophene-2-carboxylate in 9.0 mL dry toluene and 0.78 mL dry ACN are added 0.36 g (9.00 mmol) of NaH (60% in oil) under inert atmosphere at RT. The mixture is heated to reflux and stirred for 16 h, cooled to room temperature, poured on ice/water (30 mL), and treated with 2M HCl to reach pH=1. EtOAc (20 mL) is added and the phases are separated. The aqueous phase is extracted once more with EtOAc (20 mL), the combined organic phases are washed with brine (20 mL), and the solvent is removed under reduced pressure. The crude product is purified by silica gel column chromatography using a gradient of EtOAc/hexane (30% to 40%).

C₁₁H₆FNOS (M=219.23 g/mol)

ESI-MS: 218 [M−H]⁻

R_(t) (HPLC): 3.31 min (L)

The following compounds are prepared using procedures analogous to those described for intermediate IV.1 using appropriate starting materials. As is appreciated by those skilled in the art, these analogous examples may involve variations in general reaction conditions.

HPLC retention Starting time [min] Int. materials Structure ESI-MS (method) IV.2

218 [M − H]⁻ 3.33 (L) IV.3

202 [M − H]⁻ 3.08 (L)

Intermediate V

Intermediate V.1

2-[(benzyloxy)methyl]-4,5-dichloro-2,3-dihydropyridazin-3-on

To a stirred mixture of 300 g (1.82 mol) 4,5-dichloro-2H-pyridazin-3-one in 2 L DMF is added at 0° C. 262 g (1.72 mol) 1,8-diazabicycloundec-7-ene followed by 370 g (2.37 mol) chloromethoxymethyl-benzene. The reaction mixture is allowed to warm to ambient temperature and stirred for a total of 16 h. The mixture is diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate (3×). The combined organic extracts are dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated.

The residue is purified by column chromatography (SiO₂, EtOAc/PE) to yield the desired product.

C₁₂H₁₁N₃O₅ (M=285.1 g/mol)

ESI-MS: 285/287 [M+H]⁺

R_(t) (HPLC): 2.2 min (K)

Intermediate V.2

2-[(benzyloxy)methyl]-4-hydroxy-5-nitro-2,3-dihydropyridazin-3-one

To 85.0 g (298 mmol) of intermediate V.1 in 700 mL DMF and 300 mL water is added 82.3 g (1.19 mol) sodium nitrite. The reaction mixture is stirred at 85° C. for 24 h before it is cooled to ambient temperature, acidified with aqueous hydrochloric acid solution (5 N) and adjusted to pH4. The mixture is filtered and the collected solid dried under vacuum to yield the desired product.

C₁₂H₁₁N₃O₅ (M=277.2 g/mol)

ESI-MS: 278 [M+H]⁺

R_(t) (HPLC): 1.71 min (method K)

Intermediate V.3

4-Amino-2-[(benzyloxy)methyl]-5-nitro-2,3-dihydropyridazin-3-one

To 50.0 g (180 mmol) of intermediate V.2 is added 3.75 L of a saturated solution of ammonia in MeOH. The reaction mixture is heated to 130° C. in an autoclave reactor overnight. After cooling to ambient temperature, the mixture is further cooled to 0° C. The precipitated solid is collected by filtration and purified by column chromatography (SiO₂, DCM/MeOH gradient) to yield the desired product.

C₁₂H₁₂N₄O₄ (M=276.2 g/mol)

ESI-MS: 275 [M−H]⁻

R_(t) (HPLC): 1.76 min (method J)

Intermediate V.4

4,5-Diamino-2-[(benzyloxy)methyl]-2,3-dihydropyridazin-3-one

To a stirred mixture of 30.0 g (109 mmol) intermediate V.3 in 3650 mL EtOH/EtOAc (4:1) is added 2.47 g (10.9 mmol) platinum(IV) oxide. The mixture is degassed by passing Ar through the solvent for 15 min. A hydrogen atmosphere (1 atm) is applied and the reaction mixture is stirred for 16 h. After removing the hydrogen atmosphere, the mixture is filtered through a pad of celite and the filtrate is concentrated to yield the desired compound.

C₁₂H₁₄N₄O₂ (M=246.3 g/mol)

ESI-MS: 247 [M+H]⁺

R_(t) (HPLC): 1.62 min (method K)

Intermediate V.5

5-[(Benzyloxy)methyl]-1H,2H,3H,4H,5H-imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazine-2,4-dione

To a stirred mixture of 29.0 g (118 mmol) intermediate V.4 in 500 mL THF is added 38.2 g (236 mmol) 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole and the mixture is stirred at reflux for 16 h. After cooling to ambient temperature, the precipitate is collected by filtration through a sintered funnel. The collected solid is washed further with THF and dried under vacuum to yield the desired product.

C₁₃H₁₂N₄O₃ (M=272.3 g/mol)

ESI-MS: 273 [M+H]⁺

R_(t) (HPLC): 1.31 min (method J)

Intermediate V.6

5-[(Benzyloxy)methyl]-1,3-dimethyl-1H,2H,3H,4H,5H-imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazine-2,4-dione

To a stirred solution of 28.0 g (103 mmol) intermediate V.5 in 250 mL DMF is added 42.6 g (309 mmol) potassium carbonate at room temperature and the mixture is stirred for 30 min. It is then cooled to 0° C. and 58.4 g (411 mmol) methyl iodide are added. After warming to ambient temperature, the reaction mixture is stirred for 16 h. It is quenched by addition of water and extracted with ethyl acetate (3×). The combined organic extracts are washed with cold water to remove DMF, dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue is washed with EtOAc/Petroleum ether (1:1) to yield the desired compound.

C₁₅H₁₆N₄O₃ (M=300.3 g/mol)

ESI-MS: 301 [M+H]⁺

R_(t) (HPLC): 1.78 min (method K)

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ ppm 3.37 (s, 3H), 3.55 (s, 3H), 4.63 (s, 2H), 5.52 (s, 2H), 7.25-7.34 (m, 5H), 8.35 (s, 1H).

Intermediate V.7

1,3-Dimethyl-1H,2H,3H,4H,5H-imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazine-2,4-dione

A mixture of 20.0 g (66.6 mmol) intermediate V.6 in 500 mL DCM is prepared and cooled to −78° C. A solution of 58.4 g (499 mmol) boron trichloride in DCM is added and the reaction mixture is stirred at the same temperature for 2 h. Then, an equimolar mixture of 500 mL Methanol/DCM is added and the reaction mixture is stirred at −78° C. for further 2 h. After warming to ambient temperature, the mixture is stirred for another 30 min. The mixture is concentrated and co-evaporated (5 times) with MeOH to remove traces of methyl boronate. The residue is triturated with MTBE and the collected solid is dried under vacuum to yield the desired compound.

C₇H₈N₄O₂ (M=180.2 g/mol)

ESI-MS: 181 [M+H]⁺

R_(t) (HPLC): 0.75 min (method K)

¹H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ ppm 3.36 (s, 3H), 3.52 (s, 3H), 8.25 (s, 1H), 12.94 (s, 1H).

Intermediate VI

Intermediate VI.1

4,5-Dimethyl 2-bromo-1-methylimidazole-4,5-dicarboxylate

To 30.0 g (114 mmol) 4,5-dimethyl 2-bromo-1H-imidazole-4,5-dicarboxylate (CAS: 705280-65-5) in 300 mL DMF is added 32.4 g (228 mmol) iodomethane and 31.5 g (228 mmol) potassium carbonate at ambient temperature. The resulting reaction mixture is stirred for 16 h at ambient temperature. The mixture is then concentrated, diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic extract is dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue is purified by column chromatography (silica gel, PE/EtOAc 30/70) to yield the desired product.

C₈H₉BrN₂O₄ (M=277.1 g/mol)

ESI-MS: 277/279 [M+H]⁺

R_(t) (HPLC): 1.64 min (method K)

Intermediate VI.2

Methyl 2-bromo-5-formyl-3-methylimidazole-4-carboxylate

A mixture of 20.0 g (72.2 mmol) 4,5-dimethyl 2-bromo-1-methylimidazole-4,5-dicarboxylate in 800 mL THF is cooled to −78° C. and 121 mL (180.5 mmol, 25 wt % in toluene) of a solution of DIBAL-H are added. The reaction mixture is stirred for 2 h and is allowed to warm slowly to −20° C. during this period. The reaction mixture is then quenched with ice cold water and a solution of potassium sodium tartrate. The mixture is then extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined organic extracts are washed with saturated brine, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue contains the intermediate alcohol in 85% purity and is used in the next step without further purification.

To a mixture of 15.0 g (85% purity, 51.2 mmol) ethyl 2-bromo-5-(hydroxymethyl)-3-methylimidazole-4-carboxylate in 150 mL dichloromethane is added 178 g (2.05 mol) manganese(IV) oxide at ambient temperature. The resulting suspension is stirred for 16 h at ambient temperature. The reaction mixture is then filtered through Celite. The filtrate is concentrated under reduced pressure to yield the desired product.

C₇H₇BrN₂O₃ (M=247.1 g/mol)

ESI-MS: 247/249 [M+H]⁺

R_(t) (HPLC): 1.51 min (method K)

Intermediate VI.3

2-bromo-3-methyl-5H-imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazin-4-one

To a mixture of 8.0 g (32.4 mmol) methyl 2-bromo-5-formyl-3-methylimidazole-4-carboxylate in 80 mL ethanol is added 1.95 mL (38.9 mmol) hydrazine hydrate at ambient temperature. The reaction mixture is stirred for 15 min at ambient temperature before 7.4 mL (130 mmol) acetic acid is added. The reaction mixture is then heated to 80° C. and stirred at this temperature for 30 min. After cooling to ambient temperature, the precipitated solid is collected by filtration. It is further washed multiple times with ether and dried under vacuum to yield the desired product.

C₆H₅BrN₄O (M=229.0 g/mol)

ESI-MS: 229/231 [M+H]⁺

R_(t) (HPLC): 1.34 min (method K)

Intermediate VI.4

1-Methyl-1H,6H,7H-imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazin-7-one hydrobromide salt

To a mixture of 5.3 g (23.1 mmol) 2-bromo-1-methyl-1H,6H,7H-imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazin-7-one in 75 mL MeOH is added 200 mg Pd/C (10%) in an autoclave reactor. The space above the reaction mixture is evacuated and charged with 50 psi of hydrogen pressure. The reaction mixture is stirred at ambient temperature under 50 psi of hydrogen pressure overnight. After removing the hydrogen and backfilling with nitrogen, the reaction mixture is diluted with 300 mL warm water and filtered. The filtrate is concentrated to dryness to yield the desired product.

C₆H₆N₄O*HBr (M=231.1 g/mol)

ESI-MS: 151 [M−HBr+H]⁺

R_(t) (HPLC): 0.12 min (method C)

Intermediate VI.5

tert-butyl 2-{1-methyl-7-oxo-1H,6H,7H-imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazin-6-yl}acetat

To 2.00 g (8.66 mmol) intermediate VI.4 in 25 mL DMF is added 2.99 g (21.6 mmol) K₂CO3 and the mixture is stirred at RT for 10 min. 1.90 mL (12.98 mmol) tert-butyl bromoacetate are added and stirring at RT is continued for 4 h. The reaction mixture is poured onto 50 mL water and extracted with EtOAc. Organic layers are treated with MgSO₄ and charcoal, filtered, and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude material is stirred with isopropanol, filtered, and the collected precipitate is dried at 50° C. to yield the desired product.

C₁₂H₁₆N₄O₃ (M=264.28 g/mol)

ESI-MS: 265 [M+H]⁺

R_(t) (HPLC): 0.82 min (method B)

Intermediate VI.6

2-{1-methyl-7-oxo-1H,6H,7H-imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazin-6-yl}acetic acid hydrochloride salt

To 1.0 g (3.78 mmol) intermediate VI.5 in 10 mL dioxane is added 20 mL HCl in dioxane (4 mol/L) and the reaction mixture is stirred at RT for 3 days. The precipitate is filtered off, washed with isopropanol, and dried at 50° C. to yield the desired product.

C₈H₅N₄O₃*HCl (M=244.6 g/mol)

ESI-MS: 209 [M−HCl+H]⁺

R_(t) (HPLC): 0.42 min (method B)

Preparation of Final Compounds Example 1 (General Procedure) 5-({3-[(2S)-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-hydroxyethyl]-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl}methyl)-1,3-dimethyl-1H,2H,3H,4H,5H-imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazine-2,4-dione

To 200 mg (1.11 mmol) intermediate V.7 in 5 ml DMF is added 380 mg (2.75 mmol) K₂CO₃ and the mixture is stirred at RT for 10 min. Subsequently, 250 mg (0.92 mmol) intermediate II.1 in 5 mL DMF are added and stirring is continued overnight. The reaction mixture is filtered and the filtrate purified by reversed phase HPLC (ACN/H₂O gradient, 0.1% TFA) to yield the desired product.

C₁₈H₁₇ClN₆O₄ (M=416.8 g/mol)

ESI-MS: 417 [M+H]⁺

R_(t) (HPLC): 0.86 min (method B)

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ ppm: 2.92-3.05 (m, 2H), 3.39 (s, 3H), 3.53 (s, 3H), 4.92-4.99 (m, 1H), 5.63-5.64 (m, 2H), 7.32-7.37 (m, 4H), 8.40 (s, 1H).

The following compounds are prepared using procedures analogous to those described for example 1 general procedure, using appropriate starting materials. As is appreciated by those skilled in the art, these analogous examples may involve variations in general reaction conditions.

Starting Reaction Ex. materials Structure conditions 2 V.7 + III.3

1.1 eq int V.7; 3.3 eq. K₂CO₃; DMF, 50° C., 3 h 3 V.7 + III.4

0.9 eq. int. V.7; 1.5 eq K₂CO₃, DMF, RT, over- night 4 V.7 + III.2

1.0 eq. Int. V.7; 2.6 eq K₂CO₃, DMA, RT, 3 h 5 VI.4 + III.1

0.9 eq int. VI.4, 2.8 eq K₂CO₃, DMF, RT, over- night 6 VI.4 + III.3

0.8 eq int. VI.4, 2.9 eq K₂CO₃, DMF, RT, over- night 7 VI.4 + III.5

1.5 eq int. VI.4, 4 eq K₂CO₃, DMF, RT, 4 h 9 VI.4 + III.6

1.0 eq. int. VI.4, 1.9 eq K₂CO₃, DMF, RT, 3 h 10 VI.4 + III.9

1.0 eq. int. VI.4, 1.9 eq K₂CO₃, DMF, RT, 3 d 11 VI.4 + III.8

1.0 eq. int. VI.4, 1.9 eq K₂CO₃, DMF, RT, 3 h 12 VI.4 + III.7

1.0 eq int. VI.4, 1.9 eq K₂CO₃, DMF, RT, 3 d 13 V.7 + III.6

1.0 eq. int. V.7, 1.9 eq K₂CO₃, DMF, RT, 3 h 14 V.7 + III.7

1.0 eq. int. V.7, 1.9 eq K₂CO₃, DMF, RT, 19 h 15 V.7 + III.8

1.0 eq. int. V.7, 1.9 eq K₂CO₃, DMF, RT, 19 h 16 V.7 + III.9

1.0 eq. int. V.7, 1.9 eq K₂CO₃, DMF, RT, 19 h

Analytical data for the compounds described in the table above:

HPLC re- tention time [min] Ex. ESI-MS (method) ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ ppm  2 397 [M + H]⁺ 0.62 (F) 2.26 (s, 3 H), 2.87-3.03 (m, 2 H), 3.39 (s, 3 H), 3.53 (s, 3 H), 4.91 (dd, J = 8.3, 5.3 Hz, 1 H), 5.64 (s, 2 H), 7.08-7.13 (m, 2 H), 7.19-7.25 (m, 2 H), 8.39 (s, 1 H)  3 401 [M + H]⁺ 0.57 (H) 2.92-3.05 (m, 2 H), 3.39 (s, 3 H), 3.53 (s, 3 H), 4.96 (dd, J = 8.2, 5.5 Hz, 1 H), 5.63 (s, 2 H), 7.06-7.14 (m, 2 H), 7.33-7.40 (m, 2 H), 8.39 (s, 1 H)  4 423 [M + H]⁺ 0.90 (B) 3.13-3.33 (m, 2 H), 3.39 (s, 3 H), 3.52 (s, 3 H), 5.10 (dd, J = 7.9, 5.7 Hz, 1 H), 5.64 (s, 2 H), 6.76 (s, 1 H), 7.15-7.30 (m, 2 H), 7.48-7.59 (m, 2 H), 8.36 (s, 1 H)  5 387 [M + H]⁺ 0.85 (B) 2.91-3.06 (m, 2 H), 4.05 (s, 3 H), 4.95 (dt, J = 7.9, 5.1 Hz, 1 H), 5.61 (d, J = 4.6 Hz, 1 H), 5.65 (s, 2 H), 7.31-7.39 (m, 4 H), 8.40 (s, 1 H), 8.51 (s, 1 H)  6 367 [M + H]⁺ 0.80 (B) 2.26 (s, 3 H), 2.85-3.09 (m, 2 H), 4.05 (s, 3 H), 4.91 (dd, J = 8.3, 5.3 Hz, 1 H), 5.41 (br s, 1 H), 5.65 (s, 2 H), 7.09 (d, J = 7.8 Hz, 2 H), 7.21 (d, J = 8.1 Hz, 2 H), 8.40 (s, 1 H), 8.50 (s, 1 H)  7 397 [M + H]⁺ 0.73 (G) 2.87-3.02 (m, 2 H), 4.05 (s, 3 H), 4.83-4.90 (m, 1 H), 5.43 (d, J = 4.8 Hz, 1 H), 5.65 (s, 2 H), 5.95-5.97 (m, 2 H), 6.77-6.80 (m, 2 H), 6.90-6.93 (m, 1 H), 8.40 (s, 1 H), 8.50 (s, 1 H)  9 427 [M + H]⁺ 0.48 (A) 3.14-3.18 (m, 2 H), 4.04 (s, 3 H), 5.28 (t, J = 6.7 Hz, 1 H), 5.67 (s, 2 H), 7.20 (td, J = 9.0, 2.5 Hz, 1 H), 7.24 (s, 1 H), 7.75 (dd, J = 8.7, 5.3 Hz, 1 H), 7.82 (dd, J = 9.3, 2.3 Hz, 1 H), 8.40 (s, 1 H), 8.50 (s, 1 H) 10 411 [M + H]⁺ 0.45 (A) 3.13-3.28 (m, 2 H), 4.04 (s, 3 H), 5.09 (dt, J = 7.8, 5.3 Hz, 1 H), 5.66 (s, 2 H), 5.97 (br d, J = 5.6 Hz, 1 H) 6.77 (s, 1 H), 7.09 (td, J = 9.2, 2.7 Hz, 1 H), 7.38 (dd, J = 8.9, 2.7 Hz, 1 H), 7.54 (dd, J = 8.9, 4.3 Hz, 1 H), 8.39 (s, 1 H), 8.48 (s, 1 H) 11 427 [M + H]⁺ 0.49 (A) 3.12-3.28 (m, 2 H), 4.04 (s, 3 H), 5.10 (dt, J = 7.9, 5.4 Hz, 1 H), 5.66 (s, 2 H), 5.99 (br d, J = 5.7 Hz, 1 H), 6.77 (s, 1 H), 7.28 (dd, J = 8.7, 2.2 Hz, 1 H), 7.56 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 1 H), 7.65 (d, J = 2.2 Hz, 1 H), 8.40 (s, 1 H), 8.48 (s, 1 H) 12 409 [M + H]⁺ 0.48 (N) 3.10-3.23 (m, 2 H), 4.05 (s, 3 H), 5.30 (t, J = 6.7 Hz, 1 H), 5.68 (s, 2 H), 7.24 (s, 1 H), 7.31 (quind, J = 7.3, 1.5 Hz, 2 H), 7.69-7.76 (m, 1 H), 7.86-7.93 (m, 1 H), 8.40 (s, 1 H), 8.50 (s, 1 H) 13 457 [M + H]⁺ 0.48 (A) 3.12-3.18 (m, 2 H), 3.39 (s, 3 H), 3.53 (s, 3 H), 5.28 (t, J = 6.7 Hz, 1 H), 5.65 (s, 2 H), 7.20 (td, J = 9.0, 2.5 Hz, 1 H), 7.24 (s, 1 H), 7.75 (dd, J = 8.7, 5.3 Hz, 1 H), 7.82 (dd, J = 9.4, 2.4 Hz, 1 H), 8.39 (s, 1 H) 14 439 [M + H]⁺ 0.47 (A) 3.17 (d, J = 7.1 Hz, 2 H), 3.39 (s, 3 H), 3.53 (s, 3 H), 5.30 (t, J = 6.7 Hz, 1 H), 5.66 (s, 2 H), 7.24 (s, 1 H), 7.31 (quind, J = 7.3, 1.4 Hz, 2 H), 7.70-7.77 (m, 1 H), 7.87-7.93 (m, 1 H), 8.38 (s, 1 H) 15 457 [M + H]⁺ 0.50 (A) 3.11-3.28 (m, 2 H), 3.39 (s, 3 H), 3.52 (s, 3 H), 5.06-5.13 (m, 1 H), 5.64 (s, 2 H), 5.99 (br s, 1 H), 6.77 (s, 1 H), 7.29 (dd, J = 8.7, 2.1 Hz, 1 H), 7.57 (d, J = 8.7 Hz, 1 H), 7.66 (d, J = 1.9 Hz, 1 H), 8.37 (s, 1 H) 16 441 [M + H]⁺ 0.45 (A) 3.12-3.28 (m, 2 H), 3.39 (s, 3 H), 3.52 (s, 3 H), 5.03-5.14 (m, 1 H), 5.64 (s, 2 H), 5.97 (br d, J = 3.9 Hz, 1 H), 6.77 (s, 1 H), 7.09 (td, J = 9.2, 2.7 Hz, 1 H), 7.38 (dd, J = 8.9, 2.7 Hz, 1 H), 7.55 (dd, J = 8.9, 4.2 Hz, 1 H), 8.37 (s, 1 H)

Example 8 6-({3-[(2S)-2-(4-bromophenyl)-2-hydroxyethyl]-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl}methyl)-1-methyl-1H,6H,7H-imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazin-7-one

To 73 mg (0.30 mmol) intermediate VI.6 in 3 ml DMF is added 52 μL (0.30 mmol) DIPEA and 58 mg (0.36 mmol) CDI and the mixture is stirred at RT for 2 min. Subsequently, 78 mg (0.30 mmol) intermediate I1.6 are added and stirring is continued at 100° C. for 4 h.

After cooling to ambient temperature, the reaction mixture is purified by reversed phase HPLC (ACN/H₂O gradient, 0.1% TFA) to yield the desired product.

C₁₇H₁BrlN₆O₃ (M=431.2 g/mol)

ESI-MS: 431/433 [M+H]⁺

R_(t) (HPLC): 0.86 min (method B)

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ ppm: 2.90-3.05 (m, 2H), 4.05 (s, 3H), 4.94 (dd, J=7.8, 5.8 Hz, 1H), 5.65 (s, 2H), 7.26-7.32 (m, 2H), 7.44-7.50 (m, 2H), 8.40 (s, 1H), 8.50 (s, 1H)

Analytical HPLC Methods

Method A Vol % water Flow time (mm) (incl. 0.1% TFA) Vol % ACN [mL/min] 0.00 99 1 1.6 0.02 99 1 1.6 1.00 0 100 1.6 1.10 0 100 1.6

Analytical column: XBridge BEH C18_2.1×30 mm, 1.7 μm; column temperature: 60° C.

Method B Vol % water Flow time (mm) (incl. 0.1% TFA) Vol % ACN [mL/min] 0.00 97 3 2.2 0.20 97 3 2.2 1.20 0 100 2.2 1.25 0 100 3.0 1.40 0 100 3.0

Analytical column: Stable Bond (Agilent) 1.8 μm; 3.0×30 mm; column temp: 60° C.

Method C Vol % water Flow time (mm) (incl. 0.1% TFA) Vol % ACN [mL/min] 0.00 97 3 2.2 0.20 97 3 2.2 1.20 0 100 2.2 1.25 0 100 3.0 1.40 0 100 3.0

Analytical column: Sunfire (Waters) 2.5 μm; 3.0×30 mm; column temperature: 60° C.

Method D Gradient/Solvent Vol % water Flow Time [min] (incl. 0.1% NH₃) Vol % Acetonitrile [ml/min] 0.0 95.0 5.0 1.5 1.3 0.0 100.0 1.5 1.5 0.0 100.0 1.5 1.6 95.0 5.0 1.5

Preparative column: XBridge (Waters) C18_3.0×30 mm_2.5 μm; column temperature: 60° C.

Method E Gradient/Solvent Vol % water Flow Time [min] (incl. 0.1% NH3) Vol % Acetonitrile [ml/min] 0.0 95.0 5.0 1.5 1.3 0.0 100.0 1.5 1.5 0.0 100.0 1.5 1.6 95.0 5.0 1.5

XBridge C18_3.0×30 mm-2.5 μm (Waters); column temperature: 60° C.

Method F Gradient/Solvent Vol % water Vol.-% ACN Flow Time [min] (incl. 0.1% TFA) (incl. 0.08% TFA) [ml/min] 0.0 95.0 5.0 1.5 1.3 0.0 100.0 1.5 1.5 0.0 100.0 1.5 1.6 95.0 5.0 1.5

Preparative column: Sunfire (Waters) C18_3.0×30 mm_2.5 μm; column temperature: 60° C.

Method G Vol % water Flow time (mm) (incl. 0.1% NH₄OH) Vol % ACN [mL/min] 0.00 97 3 2.2 0.20 97 3 2.2 1.20 0 100 2.2 1.25 0 100 3 1.40 0 100 3

Analytical column: XBridge C18 (Waters) 2.5 μm; 3.0×30 mm; column temperature: 60° C.

Method H Vol % water Vol.-% ACN Flow time (mm) (incl. 0.1% TFA) (incl. 0.08% TFA) [mL/min] 0.00 95 5 1.5 1.3 0 100 1.5 1.5 0 100 1.5 1.6 95 5 1.5

Analytical column: Sunfire C18 (Waters) 2.5 μm; 3.0×30 mm; column temperature: 60° C.

Method I Gradient/Solvent Vol % water Time [min] (incl. 0.1% TFA) Vol % ACN Flow [ml/min] 0.0 50.0 50.0 1.5 0.02 50.0 50.0 1.5 1.0 0.0 100.0 1.5 1.1 0.0 100.0 1.5

Analytical column: Sun fire (Waters) CT82× 30 mm_2.5 μm; column temperature: 60° C.

Method J Gradient/Solvent Vol % water Vol % CAN Time [min] (incl. 0.07% FA) (incl. 0.07% FA) Flow [ml/min] 0.0 97 3 0.6 0.3 97 3 0.6 2.7 2 98 0.6 3.5 2 98 0.6 3.51 97 3 0.6

Analytical column: AQUITY UPLC BEH C18_2.1×50 mm_1.7 μm; column temperature: 35° C.

Method K Gradient/Solvent Vol % water Vol % CAN Time [min] (incl. 0.07% FA) (incl. 0.07% FA) Flow [ml/min] 0.0 97 3 0.6 0.3 97 3 0.6 2.2 2 98 0.6 3.3 2 98 0.6 4.5 2 98 0.6 4.51 97 3 0.6

Analytical column: AQUITY UPLC BEH C18_2.1×50 mm_1.7 μm; column temperature: 35° C.

Method L Gradient/Solvent Vol % water Vol % CAN Time [min] (incl. 0.1% FA) (incl. 0.1% FA) Flow [ml/min] 0.01 95 5 0.5 4.00 5 95 0.5 5.00 5 95 0.5 5.20 95 5 0.5 6.00 95 5 0.5

Analytical column: AQUITY UPLC C18_2.1×50 mm_1.8 μm. 100 Å; column temperature: 25° C.

Method M Gradient/Solvent Vol % water Vol % CAN Time [min] (incl. 0.1% FA) (incl. 0.1% FA) Flow [ml/min] 0.00 95 5 0.5 10.00 5 95 0.5 10.50 5 95 0.5 11.00 95 5 0.5 12.00 95 5 0.5

Analytical column: AQUITY UPLC C18_2.1×50 mm_1.8 μm. 100 Å; column temperature: 25° C.

Method N Vol % water Flow Time (mm) (incl. 0.1% TFA) Vol % ACN [mL/min] 0.00 99 1 1.6 0.02 99 1 1.6 1.00 0 100 1.6 1.10 0 100 1.6

Analytical column: XBridge Phenyl_2.1×30 mm, 1.7 μm; column temperature: 60° C. 

1. A compound according to formula (I)

wherein A is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, thiophenyl, benzothiophenyl and benzofuranyl, and wherein A is unsubstituted or substituted with one or two members of the group R¹ selected from the group consisting of halogen and C₁₋₄-alkyl; or A is

E is selected from the group consisting of

or a salt thereof.
 2. The compound of formula (I) according to claim 1, wherein R¹ is selected from the group consisting of Br, Cl, F and H₃C.
 3. The compound of formula (I) according to claim 1, wherein A is selected from the group consisting of

and wherein A is unsubstituted or substituted with one or two members of the group R¹, or A is


4. The compound of formula (I) according to claim 1, wherein A is selected from the group consisting of


5. The following compound of formula (I) according to claim 1:


6. The following compound of formula (I) according to claim 1:


7. The compound of formula (I) according to claim 1, selected from the group consisting of


8. A salt of a compound according to claim
 1. 9. A pharmaceutically acceptable salt of a compound according to claim
 1. 10. A pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one compound of formula I according to claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.
 11. A method for the treatment of inflammatory airway diseases, fibrotic diseases or cough in a patient, comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of a compound of formula (I) according to claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 12. The method according to claim 11 for the treatment or prevention of idiopathic lung disease (IPF) or cough. 